Bahtiri, Rakic and KFOR Commander urged citizens to respect curfew from Ibar Bridge last night

KFOR commander, Major General Michele Risi and the mayors of North and South Mitrovica, Goran Rakic ​​and Agim Bahtiri, met at the main Ibar bridge last night regarding the coronavirus outbreak. They jointly called on citizens on both sides of the city to respect the measures prescribed by the Pristina institutions, with Goran Rakic ​​also calling for compliance with the measures adopted by Serbian-sponsored Kosovska Mitrovica emergency team.

„The mayors of North and South Mitrovica know very well that the situation regarding the coronavirus is very grave. It is very serious here in the Balkans, in Europe and around the world,” KFOR Commander, Michel Risi said, sharing his belief that all Mitrovica residents will follow the rules and restrictions imposed by the public institutions of Kosovo.

The major of South Mitrovica, Agim Bahtiri urged citizens from both sides of Mitrovica to follow the recommendations of the Kosovo Ministry of Health in order to „succeed together in this war“.

„Unfortunately, this world-threatening virus has not bypassed us. This evil recognizes no administrative, religious or national boundaries,” North Mitrovica mayor, Goran Rakic stressed last night.

In a brief statement, he called on the citizens of Mitrovica to abide by the instructions given by the doctors and municipal emergency team, adding that it is the only way „we can save our lives.“

The event was not previously announced, at least to some parts of the media. The only announcement was sent by the mayor of South Mitrovica, Agim Bahtiri via a press release written in Albanian and released shortly before the event took place.

Questions were not allowed at this „press conference“, and after the meeting, KFOR presented a press release describing KFOR’s activities in the fight against coronavirus to the media crews present, however, without gloves or a mask on. The safe distance measure was also not respected.